Heaven, Hell, and Everything in Between

The following article is part of a broader investigation into the catechetical function of mural painting in the churches of the old Ruta de la Plata between Potosi and Arica Here it is proposed to identify the ornamentation of wall paintings of the church of Copacabana Andamarca located in the Ruta de la Plata the formal origin function and meaning of the decorative elements of the main scenes of the murals programs Flowers trees birds cats and dogs and frameworks among other elements decorate and link the main scenes of the murals but also may contain iconographic meanings that provide relevant information for the study and analysis of Andean society and culture of the century XVIII We believe that the symbolic image of the tree of life could have a special role in the decoration of Copacabana Andamarca However its symbolic value has not always been identified as such on numerous occasions simply it has been interpreted as a decorative forest alluding to a paradise or ideal oasis amid the arid highlands Through an iconographic analysis we aim to provide information that reinforces the idea that this tree of life image was intended to illustrate the fate reserved for those who accept the Christian faith

https://medcrave.org.medcraveonline.com/index.php/JHAAS/article/download/12799/24151

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The tree of life in the ruta de la plata potosi